Steelers' Offense Expected To Be Much Improved With 1 Huge Benefactor

The Pittsburgh Steelers have under a week until the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons, and it is going to be a highly anticipated game due to the fact that it is the first matchup that matters with the new coaching staff running the show. New head coach Mike McCarthy surely wants to start his tenure as the head coach of his hometown team off on the right foot by getting the win, while fans want to see a more efficient offense and a reliable defensive unit. Everyone wants the win, but hopefully the team can look pretty good in the process -- unlike the last season opener against Atlanta where Pittsburgh won by only kicking field goals.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is obviously going to be a big indicator of how good the offense can be in 2026, and that is true of the passing game as a whole. That part of the offense went dormant at times during the 2025 season, and hopefully it is fixed in McCarthy's offense. It is also worth noting that the Steelers have considerably upgraded their wide receiver group before the 2026 season with Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard both being noteworthy additions. This should make life easier on DK Metcalf, who was often taken out of games by opposing defenses due to the lack of threats around him in the passing game.

Beat writer Mike DeFabo had to give a prediction about the Steelers for an article on The Athletic, and his bold prediction was that Metcalf would finish the 2026 season with at least 10 touchdowns.

"The Steelers revamped their receiving corps over the offseason by trading for Michael Pittman Jr. and drafting Germie Bernard in the second round," DeFabo said. "Coach Mike McCarthy and QB Aaron Rodgers also believe that third-year wide receiver Roman Wilson has taken the necessary step forward to be a key contributor this year. However, when Rodgers was asked how a more well-rounded room could open up the offense, the QB made it clear that the passing game still flows through Metcalf."

DeFabo referenced Rodgers speaking about Metcalf during his last media availability where the quarterback stated that the offense had to find a way to get Metcalf the ball more. It sounds like that will be a mission for both McCarthy and Rodgers, and the fact that the entire arsenal is better than it was in 2025 is going to help.

The Steelers acquired Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks during the 2025 offseason, and he was an exciting addition for the franchise. The organization probably should have done a better job of bringing in other pieces, but that did not happen for whatever reason. The offense now looks better on paper, which should lead to a better individual season for the veteran wide receiver. In 2025 he caught just 59 passes, which is the second-lowest mark of his career. He had the lowest amount of receiving yards for a season in his career as well while scoring six touchdowns.

Metcalf's production in 2025 dipped because it was hard to get him super involved in the offense, but he also missed Pittsburgh's final two regular season games after being suspended for the incident with a fan against the Detroit Lions. 

Steelers Need A Strong Connection From Rodgers And Metcalf

Rodgers has always spoken highly of Metcalf, even when the two seemed to be struggling during the 2025 season. There is an obvious respect between the two and they want to be highly successful together. McCarthy might be the play-caller who can unlock something special, because the Steelers expected more out of the duo in 2025.

Metcalf's success is going to rely on the receiving group as a whole as guys like Pittman, Bernard, and Roman Wilson are going to have to perform.

What do you think about DeFabo's prediction? What do you think Metcalf's final stat line will be for the 2026 season? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!

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